Translated with AI
The election of the tenth UN Secretary-General, who will take office on January 1, 2027, is becoming one of the key diplomatic events of the coming months. The UN's leadership will determine the direction of global policy, the international community's ability to respond to crises, and the sustainability of the multilateral system in the face of increasing global fragmentation, the UN press service reports.
In early 2026, Member States received an invitation to submit their candidates by April 1. The first public dialogues with candidates are scheduled for the General Assembly at the end of April.
The process will then continue with closed consultations in the Security Council, where the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—play a decisive role, as any of these countries can block a candidacy. Formal approval by the General Assembly is expected at the end of 2026, although the actual selection typically takes place between August and October.
Four candidates have been formally nominated so far: former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022; International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi of Argentina; UN Conference on Trade and Development President Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica; and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
Three of the four candidates represent Latin America—a region that many consider next in line for informal geographic rotation, though such a practice does not officially exist. Representatives from permanent member countries of the Security Council traditionally do not participate in the race.
Gender balance is a particular focus. Over the nearly eight decades of the organization's existence, nine men have held the position of Secretary-General, and more and more states are calling for women to be nominated. However, gender is not a formal criterion, and the final decision depends on the ability of the permanent members of the Security Council to reach consensus. Recent disagreements among them over the crises in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran demonstrate the complexity of this process.
The future head of the organization will succeed António Guterres, who has held the post since 2017. Before him, the organization was led by Ban Ki-moon, Kofi Annan, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Kurt Waldheim, U Thant, Dag Hammarskjöld, and Trygve Lie.
The new Secretary-General is expected not only to lead a complex international structure, but also to act as a mediator in conflicts, a defender of international law, and a representative of the international community in a context of growing global instability.
